The most remarkable and unexpected circumstance of my
extraordinary adventures, I have yet, dear brother, to relate.
Soon after my arrival at Jamaica, the Authority having been
made acquainted with the circumstance of my recent capture by
the Pirates, and the extraordinary circumstance which produced
my liberation, requested that I might be conducted to the Prison,
to see if I could among a number of Pirates recently committed,
recognize any of those by whom I had been captured. I was
accordingly attended by two or three gentlemen, and two young
ladies (who had politely offered to accompany me) to the prison
apartment, on entering which, I not only instantly recognized
among a number therein confined, the identical savage monster
of whom I have had so much occasion to speak (the Pirates'
Chief) but the most of those who had composed his gang, and
who were captured with him!

The sudden and unexpected introduction into their apartment of
one, whom they had probably in their minds numbered with the
victims of their wanton barbarity, produced unquestionably on
their minds not an inconsiderable degree of horror as well as
surprise! and, considering their condemnation now certain, they
no doubt heaped curses upon their more fortunate companions,
for sparing the life and setting at liberty one whom an all-wise
Providence had conducted to and placed in a situation to bear
witness to their unprecedented barbarity.

Government having through me obtained the necessary proof of
the guilt of these merciless wretches, after a fair and impartial
trial they were all condemned to suffer the punishment due to
their crimes, and seven ordered for immediate execution, one of
whom was the barbarian their chief. After the conviction and
condemnation of this wretch, in hopes of eluding the course of
justice, he made (as I was informed) an attempt upon his own
life, by inflicting upon himself deep wounds with a knife which
he had concealed for that purpose; but in this he was
disappointed, the wounds not proving so fatal as he probably
anticipated.

I never saw this hardened villain or any of his equally criminal
companions after their condemnation, although strongly urged to
witness their execution, and am therefore indebted to one who
daily visited them, for the information of their behavior from
that period until that of their execution; which, as regarded the
former, I was informed was extremely impenitent—that while
proceeding to the place of ignominy and death, he talked with
shocking unconcern, hinting that by being instrumental in the
destruction of so many lives, he had become too hardened and
familiar with death to feel much intimidated at its approach!

He
was attended to the place of execution by a Roman Catholic
Priest, who it was said labored to convince him of the
atrociousness of his crimes, but he seemed deaf to all
admonition or exhortation, and appeared insensible to the hope
of happiness or fear of torment in a future state—and so far from
exhibiting a single symptom of penitence, declared that he knew
of but one thing for which he had cause to reproach himself,
which was in sparing my life and not ordering me to be
butchered as the others had been! How awful was the end of the
life of this miserable criminal! He looked not with harmony,
regard, or a single penitent feeling toward one human being in
the last agonies of an ignominious death.

After remaining nine days at Jamaica, I was so fortunate as to
obtain a passage with Capt. Ellsmore, direct for St. Johns—the
thoughts of once more returning home and of so soon joining
my anxious friends, when I could have an opportunity to
communicate to my aged parents, to a beloved sister and a large
circle of acquaintances, the sad tale of the misfortunes which
had attended me since I bid them adieu, would have been
productive of the most pleasing sensations, had they not been
interrupted by the melancholy reflection that I was the bearer of
tidings of the most heart-rending nature, to the bereaved families
of those unfortunate husbands and parents who had in my
presence fallen victims to Piratical barbarity.

Thankful should I
have been had the distressing duty fell to the lot of some one of
less sensibility—but, unerring Providence had ordered
otherwise. We arrived safe at our port of destination after a
somewhat boisterous passage of 18 days. I found my friends all
well, but the effects produced on their minds by the relation of
the distressing incidents and adverse fortune that had attended
me since my departure, I shall not attempt to describe—and
much less can you expect, brother, that I should attempt a
description of the feelings of the afflicted widow and fatherless
child, who first received from me the melancholy tidings that
they were so!

Thus, brother, have I furnished you with as minute a detail of the
sad misfortunes that have attended me, in my intended passage
to Antigua, in February and March last, as circumstances will
admit of—and here permit me once more to repeat the enquiry
—is it not sufficient to satisfy you and every reasonable person,
that I owe my life and liberty to the interposition of a Divine
Providence?—so fully persuaded am I of this, dear brother, and
of my great obligations to that Supreme Being who turned not
away my prayer nor his mercy from me, that I am determined to
engage with my whole heart to serve Him the residue of my
days on earth, by the aid of his heavenly grace—and invite all
who profess to fear Him (should a single doubt remain on their
minds) to come and hear what he hath done for me!
I am, dear brother, affectionately yours,